I have a review for the book as a whole, but for the audiobook I’ll keep it short. The narrator’s New Orlean’s accent for this man was not for me. I can’t tell if I just don’t enjoy it in general or if the narrator did a poor job, but I recoiled so fast. It sounded like I was watching Scooby Doo on Zombie Island and the hero was that dude named Jacques. Another review said the accent was off putting and I totally agree. The put is officially off. Nothing at all like I imagined him sounding—which is partly on me. I think this needed a man to read his chapters because it was just too weird having a British woman make this sound at all natural. Also Selena calls his voice “lightly accented” and let me tell you the narrator did not get the memo. She did sound good for the heroine.

I first read the book with my eyes then did another re-read but listening and I was just as in love with the book the second time as I was the first, if not moreso!

The narrators did a fantastic job of embodying the MCs. When I eye-read the book, I knew Peter, the MMC was from Louisiana, but hearing the narrator with his Louisiana accent just really added so much more to the characters. Similarly, the narrator for Selina was stellar. Excellent casting for both MCs!

I enjoyed hearing the intonations and emphases the narrators put on certain phrases and words, allowing for a more nuanced reading of the book as it gives greater insight into the emotions of the characters.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and I would highly recommend the audiobook to fellow readers.

Thanks to the publisher for an early eALC. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted this to work for me but I was starting to skim (which in audio meant that I was getting up to 2.5x speed) and then roll my eyes from time to time so I had to call it and DNFed at 60%.

I think this book is good but boring? I found that I wasn't worried for a moment that everything would work out find and I just didn't really care to find out how.

I almost pushed through partly because it was an ARC but also because I was genuinely intrigued by how Lydia's story will work out and I wanted to see what role she plays in this book. But I know that when I start feeling ambivalent, it's a sign to stop reading.

What I liked:
• The main and secondary characters were charming and interesting
• The connection and tension between the two main characters
• Everything about the Belvoir library

I do think the writing was solid and I remain intrigued by Lydia so I will give Earl Crush a try. And the narration was well done. Also I still keep meaning to go back to the Halifax novellas because those seem to be universally loved.

I've read from Alexandra Vasti before and thought her previously published novellas were okay. I was interested in trying a full length novel from her to see how the two different book types differed. I ended up not really liking the audiobook of this one and I definitely think that impacted my enjoyment of the book itself unfortunately. I don't think the narrator was a good match and the sound quality of the audiobook was not great.

Sweet historical romance about love, family and courage. Cute and spicy and full of regency drama, a real treat. I think you’ll love the found family vibes, the fulfilling friends to lovers feel, and the scandalous repartee.

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley as the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

this book was just mid for me. nothing to recommend. nothing to condemn. it was just sort of, there. i'm not sure if it was the 'duke' aspect or what. but it wasn't of me.

I loved this book! It was fun, engaging, and funny. The dynamic between the two leads was great—they had excellent chemistry and banter, and most importantly, they both actually liked each other as people before they fell in love. 10/10, recommend to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti was a delightful surprise, especially since I don’t usually gravitate toward historical fiction. Set in Regency-era England, the story follows a troubled Duke and a determined woman as they navigate societal expectations, love, and redemption. The characters are well-crafted, and their journeys feel both genuine and relatable.

Vasti’s writing is elegant and brings the period to life, while the romance is tender without being overly predictable. The plot unfolds with well-timed twists and emotional depth, keeping me engaged throughout. Even though historical fiction isn’t my usual genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a great pick for anyone looking for a compelling, character-driven story with a rich historical backdrop.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness. This book is excellent. I feel the characters are well fleshed out and the story moved in a good pace. Also, the characters are likeable and believable. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I liked the plot of this book! There was quite a bit going on but I enjoyed it. The only thing that really affected my opinion was how much banter all the characters had, it was a bit much. I did actually enjoy the main characters though and think it’s definitely worth a read/listen (the audiobook narrators were great!).

4.5 stars!

I don't read much Regency romance, but if they are all as good as Alexandra Vasti's "Ne'er Duke Well," consider me a fan! I loved every second of this book. I had such an amazing time reading it! It has been a long time since I laughed as hard as I did while reading something. This story has some of the best banter I have read all year. I absolutely adored the main characters, Peter and Selina, both separately and together. They are wholly endearing individuals, and their dynamic made me want more, more, more of them! Selina is such a strong, amazing female character. I admired her resilience, her strength, and her spunkiness. I loved her from the second she was introduced on the page. I appreciated her covert job and why she does what she does (in an effort to educate women at a time when they were not allowed to be enlightened!). Peter is a pure soul who loves his siblings more than anything and is willing to go to the ends of the earth for them. His charm and adoration are palpable, and I found myself smitten with him just like Selina was. And he's a dirty talker! Alexandra Vasti has such a terrific, seamless, swoony writing style. This book sparked so much joy. I cannot wait to read her next novel!! I also totally loved Mhairi Morrison's absolutely stunning, perfect narration for both characters. She helped me enjoy this book even more than I already did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexandra Vasti, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

A fun audiobook to get lost in! I really enjoyed the story. it was unique, with a southern gentleman in England. They were just so cute and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story!

This was an easy to listen to rom-com with a fun historical setting. If you're looking for historical accuracy, this might not be the book for you, but historical accuracy isn't everything! The story is enjoyable and relatable, and the characters are varied and fully formed. You are really excited for both the romance and to find out if Peter can keep his family together. The theme of family continues throughout as Salina and Peter are both trying to figure out what that means for them and building it together. There is definite spice - enough to keep it interesting but not so much that it overwhelms the storyline. The narrator for the audiobook does a great job establishing a difference between the characters, and while at first I found her southern gentlemen voice a little off-putting, I eventually grew to appreciate it as I felt like it really represented Peter's character.

I really enjoyed this story. Peter is a very unconventional duke which I really liked. His passion for abolition and his determination to win guardianship of and take care of his half-siblings made me like him instantly. His bumbling charm and tendency to act without thinking helped cement him as a favorite.

Selena is cooler and a little harder to get to know. She is whipsmart and basically spends the novel ordering Peter about and then getting annoyed when he haplessly ruins her plans. It took a little longer for me to really get behind her, but she did eventually win me over.

I loved Georgianna. Talk about pulling the wool over the eyes of the ton! Lydia and Iris were also excellent characters and I hope we get spinoff novels for each of them because they would definitely be entertaining.

The children were adorable and definitely added to the story. I'm glad they were there, and would actually have preferred them to be more present in the middle section of the book instead of just the beginning and end.

The plot strains credulity at times but in a fun way. If you can suspend disbelief and let it take you for a ride then you'll enjoy it.

I enjoyed the audiobook narration for the most part, except Peter's dialogue, especially in the beginning, was delivered in an agonizingly slow exaggerated drawl. I know he's supposed to be from Louisiana, but still. Luckily the narrator did speed up and lighten up on the drawl in the second half of the book.

I definitely recommend this if you like your historical romance with a good dose of humor and a significant amount of social commentary and critique.

*Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and Dreamscape Media for providing an early copy for review.

“Ne'er Duke Well” by Alexandra Vasti is a total gem—a historical romance that mixes friends-to-lovers with a dash of found family, and it works like a charm.

Selina’s been in the debutante game for years, but she’s got a secret side hustle: running an underground erotic library to help women get in touch with their sexuality. Then there’s Peter, a Duke fresh from New Orleans who’s just inherited not only a title but also two young siblings who need his care.

The story kicks off with Selina trying to play matchmaker for Peter so he can gain custody of his siblings—because let’s face it, the high society "Ton" isn’t too fond of single guys, especially those who don’t fit their stiff, old-fashioned views. But here’s the catch: Peter’s only interested in Selina, even though she’s probably the last person he should be caught with, considering her connection to the Venus catalog. After some failed attempts to set Peter up, the chemistry between him and Selina is too hot to ignore, and things get steamy.

I couldn’t get enough of these two. Vasti shows that real, grown-up communication can be sexy as h%ll, and Peter? Let’s just say he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to romance.

Plus, Mhairi Morrison kills it with the narration. She does such a good job with the voices that you forget it’s just one person reading. Fingers crossed for more stories in this world—Selina’s twin brother Will definitely needs his own book, and I’m here for it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

Summer 2024 seems to be the summer of royal romance books. I have read at least four royal romances this summer. I guess royal romances are becoming super popular because of Bridgerton.

Overall this was a fun and enjoyable romance that will whisk you away to the world of Regency England. So if you like 19th-century novels, this is a good book for you. I also thought the romance had really good chemistry, which is what you want in an enjoyable romance book. And Mhairi Morrison is a fabulous narrator.

I am most definitely going to look for more books by Alexandra Vasti in the future!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I've read this book twice previously, once from NetGalley and once as part of a travelling ARC train from the author. I LOVE this book, and have almost no negative things to say about it in written form.
With that being said, the narrator's accent for Peter is distractingly bad. I found the MMC to be very sexy when reading the book, but it was a complete turn off to hear him during intimate scenes sounding like Colonel Sanders.

Fun, funny and charming as all hell. Everything I want from a regency romance! I will definitely read more Alexandra Vasti in the future! I like her characters. I just want them to have a little more room to breathe.

Absolutely loved this entire book with my heart. You would think these two, Peter and Selina don’t belong together but they do. Peter was in this relationship from the beginning, Selina just needed to stop being afraid of what society would think. In the end everything worked out in their favor, the most thrilling part was the journey they took to get their HEA. Audiobook production was excellent, character voices were lively and entertaining.

(4.5 rounded up to 5)

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti is an charming historical romance featuring a debutant who runs an erotic circulating library and a newly inherited duke raised in New Orleans.

I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Mhairi Morrison. I really enjoyed listening to her, and appreciated her different character voices.

I'm always so happy to see feminist ideals explored in historical romance. I think the balance was handled really well here! I would have totally signed up for a library card for Belvior's.

Chemistry between Selina and Peter is on-point, and their banter (and the steam) is great. I also appreciated how openly communicative they are with one another. There isn't really a third-act breakup here, which is refreshing to see.

Found family is like catnip to me and this book does not disappoint. Peter's two younger half-siblings are a RIOT and they must be protected at all costs. And the friend group is great! I truly hope this is the start of a series, because I'd love to have a book each for Georgiana and Lidia, two of Serina's friends (one of whom I hope end up with her twin brother, Will).

This is my first book by the author but will certainly not be my last!